Month: February 2005

Yesterday was the Oakhurst Wine Crawl. A film studio, Short and Sweet Studios, had called and asked me to hang some art on their walls for the event. You have to go see what these two women (Susan and Julie) do. So unique and so much fun!!

My sister, her new sister-in-law, and a bunch of my friends all came and we went around 19 different places sipping wonderful wines. It was so much fun! We only made it to about 8 places because they were not just pouring “tastes” a la Napa Valley. Oh no, these people were serious! The poured a half a glass at every place! So you can imagine by the 8th place you were feeling it! It was really wonderful because it was a great day, tons of people were everywhere and all so friendly! I mean who wouldn’t be when you are getting to walk all over town with as much wine as you can drink for $15?!? Happiness abounded!

I got recognized twice while I was out and about. It was pretty cool. I also got to overhear people talking about my art. I waited to make sure the comment was good, then introduced myself. People get so excited to meet an artist. I don’t think it is actually ME they get excited about, more the idea of me – or an artist that actually makes some money from something they love to do. I have a long way to go with all this, and when I get to meet others making a living from their passion no matter what it is, I so excited and inspired. “If they can do it, so can I” I think. (Unless it is a PMS day, then I am just sure I am destined to make tri-fold brochures for all my future days to come. hee) So anyway, here are some pics, it was fun. I should have taken more but after some (ok, a bunch) of the wine I kinda forgot abut pictures…

I wish I could be as carefree as them. They are always happy. Always ready to love. Forever trusting and forever grateful. Even on days when I am out all day long, or even worse, when I am in and out all day. (this seems worse as I think they decide I am teasing them) They always love me just the same. They greet me in the morning as I stumble out of bed at 6:30am to make coffee and muffins (the add a cup of milk and mix and bake kind people, I am no susie homemaker!) They wait patiently at my side for the inevitable crust to get cut off the lunch sanwiches. They wait for the last few bites of muffin that does not get eaten when mommy begins with “Hurry! You have still have to brush your teeth!” They even will allow me to go drop the kids off at school if I run out of time to let them out. Because they know that at 8am, coffee in hand I am outside with them just a-throwin that stick 10 million times, or letting them run into the woods and explore. Then sometimes they really show me how much I need them. Like yesterday.

Yesterday it was gorgeous. Amazing. Spectacular. And I was in a foul mood. Mostly hormones I am sure, because the day before the weather had me grinning from ear to ear. I am not normally a rapoid mood swong kinda girl. ‘Cept once a month if ya know what I mean. I didn’t want to work. I didn’t want to dream. I didnt’ want to be cheered up. I sat on the couch and grimaced at life in general. Then Miss Lucy, my love, the sweetest, most polite dog on the planet nudged her nose under my elbow. I looked into those deep brown eyes and said, “Too bad dog! I ain’t going out!! So deal with them apples!” Hey, I’m no saint. But then Rufus got in on the act. They whined. They wimpered. They began playing chase in an apartment not meant for two 90 lb dogs. “Fine! I finally shouted. “You win! Let’s go!” I walked outside, down the stairs and sat my grumpy old self down on the cement steps. My dogs, however were in heaven. They leaped, they pranced, they tackled each other until they were, well, dog tired. By now I had leaned back and was laying on my back, my face to the sun and much to my disgust ENJOYING the sunshine. Then they both came over to me and each put a sloppy face in my lap. I am sure it was a site. They both were looking up at me like, “COME ON lady, this has GOT to make you smile!” And it did. We layed like that for about 20 minutes. The three of us enjoying the beautiful day. And I was reminded that animals are so vital to us because we humans can be pretty stupid and stubborn sometimes. We should all be more canine.

I gave a presentation of my art at a nursing home yesterday. I have a phobia. Of nursing homes. They scare me. They remind me that I will not live forever. They remind me that my time is limited. They remind me that if I don’t make the most of today I could end up with regret. I do believe it is an irrational fear. I know I live my life fully. I know I try to get the most out of most days. Some days I fall short. Some days I feel like I could not have possibly felt more alive. I don’t regret much in my life. I don’t see the point in looking at your past and feeling badly. I try to see what I have learned and move forward. Quite often that is easier said than done. Some lessons take a very long time to learn. And it seems like life can be passing you by while you are stuck learning them. But. But then you learn the lesson. There is that day that you finaly get it. And you look back on the painful times, the slow process it took and you realize that you did an increadible amount of learning and growing. And living. And once again we are reminded that the parts of life that go too slow for us are still so very necessary. How easy it is to tell a child that things are worth the wait. That they can’t have everything they want right now because then nothing would seem special. Funny how it comes just as hard for us adults to grasp that concept.

I had a delightful time at the nursing home. I got to meet wonderful, older people full of life and fun. They gave me tidbits of wisdom and I got to make them smile with my silly dogs. They got me. They understood when I said that I did this just to make people smile. They told me I was lucky to have found such a passion so young. Funny how I have been looking at it like it took me so long to get here. Perspective is everything. I am a little less scared of nursing homes now. Slow lessons, but I am getting there.

Isn’t it gorgeous? It is a photograph a friend of mine took of Zulu wire baskets. I am ordering a print because the colors are amazing and exactly what I am looking for in my house. Go check out the auction on ebayif you are a sucker for beautiful art and colors.